OPTICAL COMPONENT, BACKLIGHT MODULE AND DISPLAY APPARATUS USING SAME
An optical component is provided in the present disclosure. The optical component, which can be used in a backlight module or a display apparatus, comprises a substrate and optical medium poles embedded in the substrate. A refractive index difference between the substrate and the optical medium poles is greater than 0.4. A backlight module and a display apparatus are also provided.
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The present disclosure relates to an optical component, a backlight module and a display apparatus using the optical component.
BACKGROUNDFlat panel displays (FPDs) are widely used in various modern electronic product due to the advantages of low radiation and low power consumption. Some kinds of display panels, for example, liquid crystal panels, are passive optical devices, which are incapable of emitting light beams themselves. In order to enable these kinds of display panels to display images, in general, backlight modules are introduced in the FPDs as to provide sufficient illumination for the display panels.
Referring to
The optical film assembly 130 is adapted to convert light beams emitting from the LGP 120 into uniform planar light. Typically, the BEF 132 employs micro-lens structures to gather the light beams, so as to enhance the brightness of the backlight module 102. The diffusers 131, 133 are used to scatter the light beams transmitted thereto, such that the planar light provided to the display panel 101 can be uniform.
As can be seen, in order to obtain the uniform planar light, it is needed to adopt various optical films in the backlight module 102, for example, the BEF 132 and the diffusers 131, 133. The variety of optical films may cause a structure of the backlight module 102 to be complicated, and additionally, a cost of such complicated backlight module 102 is high.
The components in the drawing are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the described embodiments. In the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout various views, and all the views are schematic.
Reference will now be made to the drawings to described exemplary embodiments in detail.
The backlight module 220 can be an edge-type backlight module, which may comprise an optical component 221, a light guide plate (LGP) 222, a reflector film 223, and at least one light source 224. Of cause, the backlight module 220 can also be another type backlight module, for example, direct-type backlight module.
The LGP 222 is adapted to guide light beams provided by the at least one light source 224 to emit toward the display panel 210. In particular, the LGP 222 may comprise a bottom surface 225, a light emitting surface 226 opposite to the bottom surface 225, and at least one light incident surface 227 adjoining both the bottom surface 225 and the light emitting surface 226. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, the LGP 222 comprises two opposite light incident surfaces 227, and a pair of cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFLs) or LED light bars are adopted in the backlight module 220, serving as the at least one light source 224. Each of the CCFL or LED light bar is disposed adjacent to a respective one of the light incident surfaces 227.
The reflector film 223 can be disposed adjacent the bottom surface 225, and is adapted to reflect light beams emitting out from the bottom surface 225 back to the LGP 222.
The optical component 221 can be disposed between the display panel 210 and the LGP 222. The optical component 221 is configured to convert light beams emitting from the LGP 222 into uniform planar light, and thereby providing brightness and uniformity of the display panel 210.
Referring also to
In one embodiment, each of the through hole 202 may have a round shapes in both the upper and lower surfaces of the substrate 201, with diameters (comprising an upper diameter D1 and a lower diameter D2) approximately in a range from 10 μm (micrometer) to 1 mm (millimeter). In particular, a relation between the diameters D1 and D2 of the through holes 202 can be 0.9≦D1/D2≦1.1. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, D1=D2=D, where 10 μm≦D≦1 mm, and the diameter D is an average diameter of the through hole. Moreover, an aspect ratio H/D of the through holes 202 can be approximately in a range from 0.4 to 1.4, where H represents a depth of the through holes 202. As the through holes 202 extend from the upper surface to the lower surface of the substrate 201, H can also represents a thickness of the substrate 201. Further, a duty cycle D/P of the through holes 202 can be approximately in a range from 0.2 to 0.8, where P represents a distance between centers of two adjacent through holes 202. In addition, a relation for the diameters D1 and D2 of the through holes 202 can also be 0.8 D≦D1 (or D2)≦1.2 D.
Optical medium can be filled in the through holes 202, such that a plurality of optical medium poles formed by the optical medium are embedded in the substrate 201. In addition, the optical medium poles are air poles forming a plurality of through holes 202 in the substrate 201. A refractive index N1 of the optical medium is different from a refractive index N2 of the substrate 201. For example, a refractive index difference ΔN between the substrate 201 and the optical medium poles can be greater than 0.4 (i.e., ΔN>0.4). Due to the refractive index difference ΔN, reflecting interfaces (i.e., inner surfaces of the through holes 202) are formed between the optical medium poles and the substrate 201. In operation, the reflecting interfaces are used to enable the light beams which have larger incident angles transmitted through the optical component 221 with much reflection, and incident into the display panel 210 with smaller incident angles.
Referring to
Referring to
In fact, as described above, the optical component 221 is capable of guiding most of the reflected light beams to emit out from the backlight module 220 substantially vertically, which may result in greater luminance when the viewing angle is small, and lower luminance when the viewing angle is large. Thereby, it can be found that uniform planar light with a higher light intensity can be provided by the backlight module 220, so as to enable the display panel 210 to display image with an improved quality of uniformity.
Referring also to
In particular, each of the first optical layer 361 and the second optical layer 362 may have a structure and material similar to that of the optical component 221 of the display apparatus 200 (as shown in
The third optical layer 363 are sandwiched between the first optical layer 361 and the second optical layer 362. The third optical layer 363 may have a plurality of micro-structures (not shown) such as micro-lens or beads disposed therein. The micro-structures are configured to enhance the brightness of the backlight module 320, such that an optical quality of the backlight module 320 can further be improved.
As alternative embodiments of the optical components (as shown in
Referring also to
Furthermore, in practical, some other optional optical films such as diffuser and/or BEF can also be used in the backlight module or display apparatus (such as flat panel display) of the present disclosure, in order that the optical characteristics of the backlight module or display apparatus can be further improved. Referring to
Referring to
It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of preferred and exemplary embodiments have been set out in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only; and that changes may be made in detail within the principles of present disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed.
Claims
1. An optical component adapted for using in a backlight module providing light sources to a display apparatus, the optical component comprising:
- a first optical layer comprising: a substrate; and optical medium poles embedded in the substrate; wherein a refractive index difference between the substrate and the optical medium poles is greater than 0.4.
2. The optical component of claim 1, wherein the optical medium poles are air poles forming a plurality of through holes in the substrate.
3. The optical component of claim 2, wherein a diameter D of the through hole is approximately in a range from 10 μm to 1 mm.
4. The optical component of claim 3, wherein an aspect ratio H/D of the through hole is approximately in a range from 0.4 to 1.4, H represents a depth of the through hole.
5. The optical component of claim 3, wherein a duty cycle D/P of the through hole is approximately in a range from 0.2 to 0.8, P represents a distance between centers of two adjacent through holes.
6. The optical component of claim 2, wherein each of the through holes comprises an upper diameter D1 corresponding to the upper surface, and a lower diameter D2 corresponding to the lower surface, and D1/D2 is approximately in a range from 0.9 to 1.1.
7. The optical component of claim 1, further comprising a second optical layer and a third optical layer sandwiched between the first optical layer and the second optical layer, and the optical medium poles are at least disposed in the first optical layer and the second optical layer.
8. The optical component of claim 7, wherein micro-structures are formed in the third optical layer.
9. A backlight module, comprising:
- a light guide plate comprising at least one light incident surface and a light emitting surface;
- at least one light source adjacent to the at least one light incident surface of the light guide plate; and
- an optical component adjacent to a light emitting surface of the light guide plate, the optical component comprising a first optical layer comprising a substrate and optical medium poles embedded in the substrate, and a refractive index difference between the substrate and the optical medium poles being greater than 0.4.
10. The backlight module of claim 9, wherein the optical medium poles are air poles forming a plurality of through holes in the substrate.
11. The backlight module of claim 10, wherein a diameter D of the through hole is approximately in a range from 10 μm to 1 mm.
12. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein an aspect ratio H/D of the through hole is approximately in a range from 0.4 to 1.4, H represents a depth of the through hole.
13. The backlight module of claim 11, wherein a duty cycle D/P of the through hole is approximately in a range from 0.2 to 0.8, P represents a distance between centers of two adjacent through holes.
14. The backlight module of claim 10, wherein each of the through holes comprises an upper diameter D1 corresponding to the upper surface, and a lower diameter D2 corresponding to the lower surface, and D1/D2 is approximately in a range from 0.9 to 1.1.
15. The backlight module of claim 9, further comprising a second optical layer and a third optical layer sandwiched between the first optical layer and the second optical layer.
16. The backlight module of claim 15, wherein micro-structures are formed in the third optical layer.
17. The backlight module of claim 9, further comprising one or more films of the following: a diffuser, a brightness enhance film or a prism sheet disposed on the optical component.
18. A display apparatus, comprising:
- a display panel configured to display images; and
- a backlight module configured to provide illumination for the display panel, the backlight module comprising: a light guide plate; and an optical component disposed between the display panel and the light guide plate, the optical component comprising a first optical layer comprising a substrate and through holes embedded in the substrate, and a refractive index difference between the substrate and the optical medium poles being greater than 0.4.
19. The display apparatus of claim 18, wherein the optical medium poles are air poles forming a plurality of through holes in the substrate, wherein a diameter D of the through hole is approximately in a range from 10 μm to 1 mm, an aspect ratio H/D of the through hole is approximately in a range from 0.4 to 1.4, H represents a depth of the through hole.
20. The display apparatus of claim 18, further one or more films of the following: a diffuser, a brightness enhance film or a prism sheet disposed on the optical component.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 15, 2010
Publication Date: Jan 19, 2012
Patent Grant number: 8469574
Applicant: CHI LIN TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. (Tainan County)
Inventors: YI-HSING CHIANG (Tainan County), TE-HUNG CHANG (Tainan County)
Application Number: 12/837,363
International Classification: F21V 7/22 (20060101); F21V 11/00 (20060101);